Editorial Standards & Methodology
ChildCareComp exists to make state childcare licensing rules easier to follow. Daycare owners and directors make real operating decisions based on what they read here, so we hold our content to a clear standard for sourcing, accuracy, and honesty. This page explains exactly how we work.
Last reviewed August 13, 2026. We review this policy at least twice a year.
Our commitment in one sentence
We organize and explain publicly available childcare licensing requirements accurately, name the state agency that sets each rule, and never invent a ratio, a square-footage figure, a training-hour requirement, a fee, or a person.
Where our information comes from
Childcare licensing is regulated at the state level within a federal framework, so government is our primary source. When we describe a requirement, we work from the material that actually governs it:
- State childcare licensing agency regulations, provider handbooks, application portals, and published inspection checklists.
- State health, fire safety, and building requirements that licensing rules reference for childcare facilities.
- Federal resources from the Office of Child Care at the Administration for Children and Families, including the baseline background check requirements set by the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act.
- USDA materials for programs operators commonly join, such as the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
Where a claim depends on an outside source, we favor official .gov pages so you can read the rule at its source and confirm it yourself.
How we handle facts that vary by state
Staff-to-child ratios, group sizes, square footage minimums, director qualifications, training hours, and fees differ from state to state, and they change. Rather than print a single number that would be wrong somewhere, we mark a state's specific facts as verified only when we have read them directly from that state's official source. For anything we have not verified yet, our guides and tools give you an honest framework and the exact questions to ask your state licensing office instead of a guess dressed up as a fact.
Who writes and reviews our content
Our articles and tools are researched, written, and edited by the ChildCareComp Editorial Team, a group of writers and researchers who focus on childcare licensing, inspections, and facility operations. Every article carries this team byline and a published or updated date.
We are deliberate about what we are not. We are not attorneys, licensing specialists employed by any state, or inspectors, and we do not publish content under invented expert names or fabricated professional credentials. When a decision calls for licensed judgment or an official answer, we say so and point you to your state licensing agency, the licensor assigned to your program, or a qualified attorney instead of pretending to be one.
How we keep content current
Each article shows when it was published and, when applicable, when it was last updated. We revisit content on a rolling basis and when we learn that a state has revised its regulations or procedures. Licensing rules still move faster than any publisher can track perfectly, so a date on this site tells you when we last reviewed a page, not that a rule has not changed since. Always confirm current requirements with your state licensing agency before you act.
Corrections and feedback
If you spot something that looks out of date or wrong, tell us and we will check it against the source and fix it promptly. Accurate content is more valuable to us than being right the first time, and reader corrections make this resource better for the next operator.
Email corrections to team@childcarecomp.com with the page URL and what you believe should change.
What we will never publish
- Invented facts, made-up statistics, or citations to sources that do not say what we claim.
- Specific state ratios, square footage minimums, training hours, or fees that we have not confirmed at the source.
- Guarantees that a license will be issued, that an inspection will pass, or that a variance or waiver will be approved.
- Content that suggests we file applications, respond to citations, or deal with any licensing agency on your behalf.
- Fabricated operator testimonials, success stories, reviews, or ratings.
Independence and how we pay for this
ChildCareComp is an independent information publisher. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any state licensing agency or federal program, and we do not accept payment from agencies, vendors, or providers in exchange for coverage or placement in our guides or directory. Our free guides and tools are supported by our paid $79 Daycare Licensing Startup Pack and our compliance membership, which organize the same publicly available requirements into personalized, printable working documents. Buying them is never required to read our free content, and a purchase never changes what your state requires or decides.
Related
Read more about who we are on our About page, review our full disclaimer, or browse our 1486 published articles.
Disclaimer: ChildCareComp organizes publicly available state childcare licensing requirements into guides, checklists, and templates for operators. It is not legal advice and does not replace your state licensing agency. Requirements change frequently. Verify all requirements with your state licensing agency before acting.